Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,980 | $14.42 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| Mean (average) | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| 90th percentile | $48,150 | $23.15 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,080 | $22,130 | $39,330 | 9,140 | 4.61 |
| Alaska | $37,180 | $35,640 | $38,840 | 970 | 3.17 |
| Arizona | $48,550 | $36,510 | $48,550 | 620 | 0.2 |
| Arkansas | $37,980 | $33,470 | $44,540 | 9,030 | 7.39 |
| California | $36,570 | $34,950 | $46,040 | 9,270 | 0.54 |
| Colorado | $50,390 | $47,520 | $57,280 | 2,470 | 0.92 |
| Connecticut | $34,780 | $34,010 | $44,530 | ||
| Delaware | $35,500 | $34,320 | $38,070 | 5,430 | 11.96 |
| Florida | $31,160 | $27,240 | $46,170 | 2,310 | 0.25 |
| Georgia | $39,330 | $30,150 | $45,800 | 11,480 | 2.51 |
| Guam | $27,660 | $24,430 | $30,560 | ||
| Hawaii | $40,260 | $35,660 | $49,380 | 800 | 1.36 |
| Idaho | $39,200 | $31,200 | $44,530 | 280 | 0.34 |
| Illinois | $40,690 | $35,750 | $47,390 | 4,040 | 0.71 |
| Indiana | $42,450 | $36,680 | $45,000 | 2,640 | 0.88 |
| Iowa | $43,190 | $39,170 | $46,220 | 3,970 | 2.72 |
| Kansas | $48,080 | $39,660 | $59,250 | 5,000 | 3.71 |
| Kentucky | $39,150 | $36,860 | $45,590 | 1,450 | 0.78 |
| Louisiana | $27,850 | $21,570 | $38,120 | 1,690 | 0.93 |
| Maine | $39,170 | $32,590 | $58,930 | 660 | 1.1 |
| Maryland | $32,950 | $31,200 | $45,870 | 680 | 0.26 |
| Massachusetts | $36,570 | $33,330 | $46,400 | 2,350 | 0.69 |
| Michigan | $44,430 | $37,940 | $46,630 | 920 | 0.22 |
| Minnesota | $43,400 | $36,080 | $46,770 | 3,790 | 1.37 |
| Mississippi | $37,890 | $28,870 | $41,170 | 6,470 | 5.93 |
| Missouri | $41,890 | $34,930 | $47,850 | 2,880 | 1.05 |
| Montana | $37,440 | $34,950 | $47,580 | 60 | 0.13 |
| Nebraska | $47,580 | $40,850 | $55,230 | 8,340 | 8.69 |
| Nevada | $37,920 | $31,440 | $56,940 | 360 | 0.25 |
| New Hampshire | $47,260 | $37,330 | $55,060 | ||
| New Jersey | $34,930 | $32,220 | $51,110 | ||
| New Mexico | $31,240 | $29,330 | $44,490 | 240 | 0.3 |
| New York | $37,330 | $32,740 | $52,040 | 2,420 | 0.27 |
| North Carolina | $39,170 | $29,710 | $41,640 | 9,750 | 2.11 |
| North Dakota | $47,250 | $31,250 | $47,250 | 390 | 0.96 |
| Ohio | $37,020 | $35,350 | $45,410 | 3,540 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $36,300 | $34,960 | $46,180 | 1,530 | 0.96 |
| Oregon | $36,060 | $35,640 | $45,360 | 910 | 0.49 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,480 | $31,800 | $43,550 | 1,600 | 0.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,550 | $21,840 | $32,780 | 80 | 0.09 |
| Rhode Island | $37,740 | $33,280 | $50,300 | 320 | 0.68 |
| South Carolina | $34,790 | $34,090 | $39,390 | 2,750 | 1.27 |
| South Dakota | $44,290 | $35,730 | $48,150 | 2,080 | 4.86 |
| Tennessee | $37,590 | $28,090 | $44,220 | 2,970 | 0.97 |
| Texas | $35,890 | $23,230 | $45,230 | 8,590 | 0.65 |
| Utah | $44,150 | $37,320 | $46,020 | 1,080 | 0.67 |
| Vermont | $40,110 | $29,140 | $55,580 | 40 | 0.13 |
| Virginia | $36,170 | $29,470 | $43,240 | 2,740 | 0.71 |
| Washington | $43,010 | $36,600 | $52,470 | 3,630 | 1.09 |
| West Virginia | $36,870 | $22,550 | $46,840 | 220 | 0.33 |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | $35,890 | $48,490 | 2,040 | 0.74 |
| Wyoming | $37,040 | $30,030 | $45,790 | 70 | 0.28 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 17,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
- Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
- Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
- Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
Technology skills
- Web browser software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Meat inventory software
- Sales software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Service Orientation, Instructing.
Common job titles: Beef Trimmer, Breast Trimmer, Chicken Cutter, Deboner, Fish Processor, Meat Cutter, Meat Trimmer, Seafood Processor, Trimmer, Wing Scorer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make?
The national median annual wage for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers was $38,300 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,980 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $48,150. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers to change +5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 17,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Colorado ($50,390), Arizona ($48,550), Kansas ($48,080). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.